Academy for Lifetime Learning Scholarships
The Academy for Lifetime Learning of the Eastern Shore of Virginia is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization. Members share a common interest in continuing learning experiences and intellectual stimulation. Funds raised by the group’s semester membership fee are used to award scholarships to graduates of Eastern Shore Virginia high schools every year. Since its inception in 2013, the A.L.L. scholarship program has awarded $46,500 to help recipients defray college expenses.
The number of scholarships awarded varies from year to year. In honor of Betty Ross, the founder of The Academy for Lifetime Learning, who spent her career in nursing and who passed away in 2014, one scholarship is reserved for a student entering a two- or four-year nursing program. The others are available to students beginning a program in any discipline at a two- or four-year college or university in the fall.
2026 A.L.L. Scholarship Winners
For 2026, The Academy for Lifetime Learning awarded $1500 scholarships to three Eastern Shore of Virginia high school graduates.
Ashley Austin, daughter of Shante Austin of Cheriton, was the valedictorian of the Class of 2026 at Arcadia High School and will attend the University of Virginia, where she will major in biomedical engineering. Through participation in a dual enrollment program at Eastern Shore Community College, she also earned an Associate’s Degree while still in high school. Her extracurricular activities ranged from Beta Club to peer tutoring to membership on Arcadia Beta’s Robotic Team. Ashley accumulated over 100 community service hours in projects such as a community toy drive, “Clean the Beach Day,” and assisting at the Parent University at Metompkin Elementary School. She was one of the organizers of the “Each One Teach Project,” a service project that involved tutoring elementary students. Ashley was also captain of the Maryland Twisters, a competitive cheerleading team, and leader of the praise dancing group at her church.
Chris Lopez-Perez, son of Lilia Perez-Perez of Greenbush, graduated third in his class at Nandua High School and also earned an Associate of Science degree from Eastern Shore Community Collete. Chris plans to major in human biology at the University of Southern California. He was an honors student for all four of his high school years and also made the President’s List at Eastern Shore Community College. In his junior and senior years, Chris was a Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA) scholar and participated in their Summer Institute at Princeton and Yale Universities during the summer of 2025. His extracurricular activities at Nandua included Beta club and community service, as well as participation in JV soccer and varsity cross country, wrestling, and track and field.
Campbell Bays, daughter of Darrell Bays of Onley, is also a graduate of Nandua High School. She was awarded the Academy for Lifetime Learning Betty Ross Nursing Scholarship and will study nursing at James Madison University. She earned her Nurse Aide Career Studies Certificate from Eastern Shore Community Collete through their dual enrollment program. Campbell was an honors student all four years at Nandua and also made the President’s List at Eastern Shore Community College. While at Nandua, she participated in both Beta and HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America). A member of Nandua’s varsity teams in swimming, soccer, golf, and cross country as well as a member of the Onley Recreation Association swim team, Campbell earned a place on the all district soccer team for three years and was chosen as the most improved member of both the swim and golf teams.
Past Winners of the Academy for Lifetime Learning Scholarship
2025
Dieuyimie Desil, Nandua High School
Camden Lewis, Nandua High School
Delaney Petka, Broadwater Academy
2024
Kyli Hewett, Arcadia High School
Akayah Collins, Arcadia High School
Joel Robinson, Northampton High School
2023
Angel Bailey, Nandua High School
Zy’Re’lon Jackson, Nandua High School
Kate Dunkle, Broadwater Academy
2022
Hailey Sturgis, Broadwater Academy
Hannah Bradford, Home Schooled
Angelina Joynes, Nandua High School
2021
Emma Faith, Chincoteague HS
Ethan Elliott, Nandua HS
Mahika Patel, Broadwater Academy
2020
McKenzie Mabalot, Broadwater Academy
Virginia Ross, Broadwater Academy
Taylee Thomas, Chincoteague HS
Briana Hess, Chincoteague HS
2019
Brian Drummond, Broadwater Academy
William Hollandsworth, Nandua HS
Wendy Lin, Northampton HS
2018
Stephanie Rasinski, Arcadia HS
Hayley Marshall, Northampton HS
Kanijah Brickhouse, Northampton HS
2017
Tanner Troyer, Nandua High School
2016
Durwood Moore, Arcadia HS
Luke Betts, Chincoteague HS
2015
Caroline Hiler, Northampton HS
Nicolas Dias, ESCC and Nandua HS
James Teeling, Northampton HS
2014
Madhurima (Rima) Hore, Northampton HS
Charlotte Olmstead, Nandua HS, (summer @ startup SW company)
2013
Courtney Brittingham, Northampton
Logan Holland, Broadwater
Kelsey Bisker, Northampton
The Academy for Lifetime Learning
P.O. Box 509
Exmore, VA 23350